We're all familiar with combination locks, whether it's from a gym locker or a bicycle lock. These locks use technology patented in 1862 and range from very simple three number combinations to highly technical locks on bank vaults. A combination lock works by lining up parts in a specific place to allow the lock to open. Locks are usually made of stainless steel, with nylon spacers that separate the discs inside. A zinc alloy called zamac is used to make the spindle, drive cam and outside dial. - The internal workings of a combination lock Since the combination lock's invention, the wheel pack has remained mostly unchanged. The wheel pack is made up of the same number of wheels, or interconnected rings, as there are numbers in the combination and is what makes up the combination. In other words, a lock with a three-digit code will have three wheels on its wheel pack. The outside dial is attached to a spindle or shaft, which goes through the wheels and drive cam. In turn, the drive pin is attached to the drive cam in such a way that it comes into contact with
Energy Efficient Appliances Phoenix, Scottsdale Thinking about updating your kitchen or laundry room? Take a look at all of the new energy efficient appliance options that are available. Energy efficient appliances will help lower your water and electricity bills, which will save you money in the long run. You can purchase energy efficient washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, and dishwashers. Some energy efficient appliances may cost more than their standard counterparts, but the energy savings may offset that added cost. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not to spend the money on energy efficient appliances. - Washing Machines High efficiency washers will help you cut back on the amount water and electricity you use. You can purchase high efficiency washers in the traditional top loading design or front loading style. These washing machines can cut back on your water usage by 40% or more. Over the course of the lifespan of the washer, that will save you hundreds of dollars off of your energy bill, plus you will use thousands of gallons less water.
3 Home Lighting Tips If you’re on a budget, hiring a professional lighting designer for your home doesn’t always make sense. However, lighting can have a huge impact on the overall aesthetics of your home. It influences how your paint colors appear. It determines whether particular rooms are functional or non-functional for reading, cooking, paying the bills, and a variety of other tasks. It impacts your sleep cycles. It affects safety, both outdoors and indoors. Long story short, the lighting in your home should never be an afterthought. The tips below represent a few general rules that lighting designers follow. If you’re in the process of building a new home, remodeling, or you simply need a lighting upgrade, take them into account! - Layer Everything You should know that there are three basic types of lighting in a residential setting. General lighting includes overhead ceiling fixtures like recessed cans, as well as indirect lighting in the form of cove lights, over cabinet lights, etc. Basically, general lighting provides overall illumination for a room. It doesn’t need to cover every nook and cranny, but it should enable you to
10 Tips to
Home Energy Estimate The first step to making your home more energy efficient is to calculate how much energy your home is currently using. Almost all appliances you buy today will be more energy efficient than even those built only ten years ago; however, replacing your refrigerator, your furnace, and your air conditioner all at once can be quite expensive. By evaluating which appliances in your home are using the most energy, you can make educated decisions about what to replace first, and which upgrades will get you the most cost benefit. To calculate the energy use for your home appliances you simply need to figure out the daily kilowatt-hour consumption of each. This is a pretty simple formula: (wattage of the appliance) X (hours used) / 1000 = daily Kilowatt- hour consumption. To find out how much you use per year, simply multiply your daily Kilowatt-hour consumption by the number of days you use it during the course of a year year. The wattage of most appliances is listed right on it, but if you are not sure, check internet for the most common wattage of that type of appliance. For example,
Closet Storage Solutions Phoenix Storage space is something that many people complain they do not have enough of. Regardless of how big or how small a home is, storage always seems to be limited. For this reason, it is important that you utilize the storage space that you have effectively. Below are 15 ways to make sure that you are making the most of the storage space in your home. - • Keep it organized. You want to be able to find something when you need it, right? Unfortunately, this is the biggest challenge that those who do not have enough storage space face. Have an organization system so that you know where things are located within the space. - • If you don’t use it, lose it. The more you have the more storage space your will need. If you don’t use it, get rid of it. Hoarding will quickly cause you to run out of space. - • Take advantage of shelves. If you do not have shelves in your storage area,
Play with Light and Shadow
Play with Light and Shadow In small spaces such as an apartment, the effects of light and shadow are more pronounced. Too much light and the room can become antiseptic and sterile. It can feel more like a generic hotel room than a home. Too much shadow and the room can become close and oppressive. It becomes more like a cave than a home. The small space is made to feel even smaller. However, when the right balance of shadow and light is achieved, even the smallest of apartments can feel large. Light and shadow textures the walls, draws the eye, and provides a sense of depth to a space. - The position of your eyes on your face gives you the ability to see in three dimensions. Shadow and light allows your eyes to make sense of what they see. The combination of shadow and light creates depth in space. When properly used, it can create the illusion of space. When considering lighting options, you should always consider how the created-shadows fall. This is why interior designers pay close attention to the position of area lighting. - Bright lights create stark
Phoenix Interior Design Ideas Take a look around your living room. Do you like what you see? If the answer is no, you need to look for new design ideas! While follow-through is important, some of the most difficult parts of redesigning your living room involve the planning. Re-doing your living room is something that takes time and effort, so consider what some of the following ideas can do for you. Choose correctly and you’ll have a living room that matches your taste and your style. - Framed Fabric When you want to add texture to the room, head to the fabric store and purchase a half yard or a quarter yard of fabric that you like. Don’t forget to look in the upholstery section for some particularly rich and opulent options. When you get home, trim down the fabric and stick it in a picture frame. If necessary, wrap the fabric around a square of cardboard or tag board to give it some support. Hang this framed fabric up on your walls to give your living room a sense of style and color. Use brocades for texture and calico
